President instructs officials to address X-Press Pearl concerns

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Marine Protection Environment Authority, Security Forces, and other stakeholders launched a combined operation on the instructions of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to take measures to prevent marine environment destruction caused by the blazing MV X-PRESS PEARL, a container ship.

The President had instructed officials to take necessary measures to prevent any spread of a possible oil spill from the burning vessel.The vessel which is registered under the flag of Singapore has carried 1486 containers with 25 tons of Nitric Acid, several other chemicals, and cosmetics from the port of Hazira, India on 15th May 2021.

The ship faced this unfortunate occurrence while at anchorage about 9.5 nautical miles off Colombo harbour, having arrived at the location on 19th May before it entered into the harbour.

The distressed container ship has been manned by a crew of 25, who are Philippine, Chinese, Indian, and Russian nationals.